Electrical therapeutic and amusement apparatus



Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL THERAPEUTIC AND AMUSE- MENT APPARATUS 7 Claims.

The invention relates to electric therapeutic apparatus and has for its objects to provide certain new and useful improvements in devices of such character.

A principal object ofthe invention is the provision of an electric therapeutic apparatus which is composed of few parts, is capable of economical manufacture and convenient assembly, the device being capable of partial dismantling' for in temporary storage of separated parts Within a compartment provided for the purpose in the apparatus, to provide a unitary'compact package for shipping. and storing purposes.

A further object is the provision of an appal5 ratus of the character described having an appeal from the viewpoint of health and also movement. The use of the device for amusement purposes will be attended by certain beneiicial results from a health standpoint to the end that the user of the apparatus will be specically benefited. as Well as entertained.

A further object of the invention is the provision ci an apparatus of the character described wherein provision is made for assembling the relatively few parts within a small space and the apparatus is capable of being used both by the manipulation of one or more foot pedals or through manually operated handles, or both. The apparatus is designed to be operated by children as well as adults without danger of absorbing electric current of suihcient strength and amperage to be harmful or detrimental to the human system. When the electric contact is established, as for example with the ordinary 9- house current and the handle members are operated, the current will be received in any desired degree through the arms and body of the user as a part of the circuit, the strength of the current being determined at the will of the operator according to the extent of mo-vement imparted to the handle members of the device. When operated by means of the foot pedals, the same current is received through the legs and a portion of the body, constituting a part of the electrical circuit, the intensity and strength of the current being determined by the degree of depression of a foot pedal. In the event both the handle members and foot pedals are employed, it will be understood that the current will be received substantially throughout the human body in varying degrees of strength, determined by the amount of depression of a foot pedal or turning movement imparted to a handle member.

The apparatus may be conveniently assembled 5,5` by a purchaser and operated at will in whatever (Cl. 12S-406) locality a source of electric current is available. The device is designed to include electrical apparatus for adapting the same for use with either alternating current or direct current without requiring any modication of the apparatus or substitution of parts to accommodate either of such currents. The device is further designed and constructed so as to be durable and capable of prolonged use without attention or adjustment, certain safety elements being present to insure against burning out of the coils or the reception of too great a degree of current by the user of the appliance.

With such objects in View as Well as other advantages which may be incident to the use of the improvements, the invention consists in the parts an-d combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed With the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportions and arrangement without departing from the nature and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shown in the accompanying drawing, means for carrying the same into practical eiect, without limiting the improvements in their useful application to the particular constructions and arrangements which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of an electrical therapeutic apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on a. still larger scale through the handles and associated parts;

Figure 5 an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a similar View taken on line 6 6 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram showing the several electrical devices and connections therebetween.

Referring to the drawing, an electric therapeutic apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown as comprising a housing i having vertical walls 2, top wall 3, and a hinged bottom 4. This housing is divided, by means of a partition 5, into an upper compartment 6 which contains the electrical equipment and a lower compartment l, access to which is obtained through the hinged bottom 4, and which compartment is adapted to receive and sto-re the collapsible handle structure and foot levers when the latter is not in use.

Rotatably mounted in a bearing 8 fixed to the top wall 3 of the housing I and in a thrust bearing 9 carried by the partition 5, is a stud shaft l having a squared upper end II, the latter being located within the bearing 8 below the upper surface of the top wall 3. This stud shaft is adapted to be rotated by a removable handle structure comprising a lower tubular member i2 of insulating material such as Bakelite, having a squared socket in its lower end for engagement with the squared upper end II of the stud shaft it. This tubular member telescopically engages within an upper tubular member I3 also of insulating material which is slidably mounted thereon and maintained in either a collapsed position or in adjusted extended positions by means of a set screw I4. The members I2 and I3 are maintained against relative rotation by means of a spline or key I5 provided on the former for engagement with a key-way I6 provided in the latter.

I'he upper tubular member I3 is provided with oppositely extending ears or flanged portions il which carry upwardly projecting handles or electrodes i8, I8a by means of which the structure is rotated in a manner to beV described. The upper end of member I3 is closed by means of a suitable plug I9 or the like.

A horizontally extending arm 23 is fixed to the stud shaft and is pivotally connected at its outer end with one end of a link 2i the other end of which is pivotally connected with an arm 22 intermediate its ends. The arm 22 is pivotally mounted at one end upon a bearing stud 23 carried by the partition 5, and its other end is pivotally connected with the outer end of the secondary winding 24 of an air core transformer 25, the primary winding 2E of which is suitably mounted upon the base or partition 5. The arm 22 is swung about its pivot 23 in order to move the secondary winding 24 relative to its primary winding 26 so as to control the intensity of the current, through the medium of a foot pedal 2l, the shank portion 23 of which is mounted vfor horizontal slidingmovement in a bearing 29 fixed to the vertical wall 3 at the front of the apparatus, and has its innermost extremity pivotally connected with the arm 22. These parts are normally maintained in an outermost position by means of a coil spring 30 connected at opposite ends with the arm 22 and the front wall 3 ci the apparatus. The device also includes a second foot pedal member 3l the shank portion 32 of which is or may be xed at its inner end within a second bearing 33 carried by the front vertical wall 3.

The apparatus also includes in its construction an iron core transformer, indicated generally at 34, which comprises a core member 35 and primary and secondary windings 36 and 3l respectively. The primary winding 36 is supplied with electrical energy, either direct or alternating current through a cable 31, one lead-in Wire 36 of which is connected with one terminal of this primary winding. The other terminal of the primary winding 36 is connected with a conta-ct member 39 of a Vibrating make and break device through a wire 40, and thence through a contact member 4I with a xed contact member 42. This contact member is connected through a wire 43, and switch 44 with the other lead-in wire 45 of the supply cable 31. The contact member 4I is or the flexible type and is provided with an armature 46 at one end and is xed at its other end to a relatively short leg 4'I of the core 34. A condenser 48 is preferably connected across the wires 4i) and 43 so as to be in shunt to the contacts When the switch 44 isV closed and the contacts Sii-42 are also closed, by the flexible contact member 4I, electric current is supplied to the winding 36 so as to energize the same and attract the armature 46, thus interrupting the circuit through the secondary. As soon as the circuit is thus interrupted, the primary will become de-energized so as to permit the contact member 4i to again close the contacts 39 and 42 and repeat the cycle. 'Ihis construction causes an alternating current to flow in the secondary winding 37a of the transformer 34 in a well known manner. l

One terminal of the secondary winding 31a is connected by means of a wire 49 with one terminal of the primary winding 26 of the air core oscillation transformer 25, and the other terminal of this winding 26 is connected bywires 5i) and 5l with one pole of a spark gap 52, the other pole of which is in turn connected by wire 49 with the said terminal of the secondary winding 31a of the iron core transformer 34'. Said one pole of the spark gap is conductively connected to the other terminal of said secondary winding 31a.

A condenser 53 is also preferably connected between the wires 50 and 5I leading to the secondary winding 26. By means of this construction an oscillating current of very high frequency is impressed upon the primary winding 26 which in turn induces an alternating current of corresponding high frequency, high voltage and low amperage in the secondary winding 24. The value of the voltage and current thus induced in the secondary winding 24 may be varied in intensity according to the inductive relationship of the secondary 24 with respect to the primary 26.

One terminal of the secondary winding 24 is connected by means of a wire 54 with the bear- 55 with a spring contact member 56 (Fig. 4) which is mounted upon the squared upper end of the stud shaft IIJ. This spring contact nger 56 slidably engages an elongated contact member 5l extending longitudinally of the tubular member I2 and terminates at its upper end in a spring contact 58. This contact electrically engages an elongated contact member 59, which extends longitudinally the entire Vlength of the upper tubular member I3 and is electrically connected at its upper end with one of the handles or electrodes i8. The contacts 5'! and 59 are both embedded in the insulating material of the members I2 and I3 respectively.

The other terminal of the secondary winding 24 of the transformer 25 is connected by means of a Wire 6i) with the bearing 33 and thence through a wire 6I with a second spring contactV 52 also mounted upon the squared upper end of the stud shaft II). This contact slidably engages an elongated strip or contact 63 which extends longitudinally the entire length of the lower tubular vmember I2 and terminates at its upper end in a spring contact 64. This contact slidably engages an elongated contact member 55 which extends longitudinally through the upper tubular member i3 and is connected at its upper end with the handle or electrode Isa. The contacts 63 and 65 are also embedded in the insulation material of the members l2 and I3.

In operation let it be assumed that the switch 44 is closed and that the operator grips with his hands the handles or electrodes I8, I 8a. This will complete a circuit from the one terminal of the secondary winding 24 of the air core transformer 25 through wire 54, bearing 29, wire 55, contacts 56, 5l, 58 and 59 to handle I8, and thence through the body of the operator to electrode or handle 18a, thence through contacts 65, 64, 63 and 62, wire 6|, bearing 33 and wire 60 back to the other terminal of the secondary winding 24. The amount of current traversing the body under these conditions may be controlled by moving the handles I8, lBa so as to shift the position of the secondary winding 24 with respect to its primary winding 26 through the medium of the handle and linkage mechanism heretofore described. The amount of current traversing the body in the manner described is of course dependent upon the stamina and capacity of the user of the appliance to take such treatment.

Again, let it be assumed that the operator desires to have the current traverse his body through the medium of his feet and legs. In this event the operator in a seated position places his feet upon the pedals 21 and 3|, thus establishing a circuit from one terminal of the secondary winding 24 through Wire 54, bearing 29, foot pedal 2l and the lower extremities of the operator to the foot pedal 3|, thence through the bearing 33, and wire 6D, back to the other terminal of the secondary 24. The intensity of the current traversing the body of the operator may be varied by depressing or releasing the foot pedal 21 in order to vary the inductive relationship of the secondary 24 with respect to its` primary 26, as previously described.

It will be understood of course that the operator may obtain a current through the body by way of the arms and lower extremities simultaneously if so desired or through the body from one arm to one lower extremity and vice versa.

It will be understood that when the device is out of service or in packed condition for shipping or storage, the telescoping handle members are conveniently removed from engagement with the member Ill and may be stored within the compartment 1. The same is true of the foot pedals which may be withdrawn from their supports and also stored in said compartment.

The partition member 5 is illustrated as consisting of a .suitable weighted element to the end that the apparatus will not have a tendency to slide across the floor when the foot pedals and handle members are operated. Of course such a weight may be dispensed with but the invention contemplates the use of suitable weights as indicated at 5 for the purpose of imparting stability to the device.

What is claimed is:

1. A therapeutic device comprising a source of high frequency potential, means for varying the Value of said potential including an air cored transformer having its primary winding electrically connected with said source of potential and its secondary winding electrically connected with a pair of therapeutic hand electrodes and a pair of therapeutic foot electrodes, one of each pair of said electrodes being also mechanically connected to one of said windings and being movable to shift the position of said secondary winding with respect to the primary Winding, whereby the potential at said electrode may be varied by varying the position of said secondary with respect to said primary.

2. A therapeutic device comprising in combination, a cabinet, high frequency induction apparatus therein adapted to be connected to a source of potential, an insulated shaft extending upwardly from said cabinet and rotatable thereon, a pair of therapeutic electrodes at the upper end of said shaft and electrically connected to said apparatus, a mechanical connection from said shaft to said apparatus whereby rotation of the shaft by the operator grasping said electrodes may vary the potential delivered to said electrodes by said apparatus, foot electrodes extending laterally from said cabinet and electrically connected to said apparatus and a mechanical connection from one of said foot electrodes adapted upon movement thereof to vary the potential delivered to the electrodes.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cabinet contains a compartment and said two sets of electrodes and shaft are removable for storage in said compartment.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the said shaft is adjustable in height and removable from said cabinet.

5. In a therapeutic device of the type described, in combination, apparatus for converting a source of power to high frequency alternating current, hand electrodes and foot electrodes for association with said apparatus, a cabinet housing said apparatus, sockets on said cabinet to removably receive and support said electrodes and to electrically connect them to said apparatus and a mechanical connection from each set of electrodes to said apparatus to adjust the same to vary the current intensity delivered thereby.

6. In a therapeutic device of the type described, in combination, apparatus for converting a source of power to high frequency alternating current, hand electrodes and foot electrodes for association with said apparatus, a cabinet housing said apparatus, sockets on said cabinet to removably receive and support said electrodes and to electrically connect them to said apparatus, a mechanical connection from each set of electrodes to said apparatus to adjust the same to vary the current intensity delivered thereby, and a compartment in said cabinet to house all of said electrodes when dismounted from said sockets.

7. In a therapeutic device of the type described, in combination, apparatus for converting a source of power to high frequency alternating current, hand electrodes and foot electrodes for association with said apparatus, a cabinet housing said apparatus, sockets in one side of the cabinet to removably receive and support said foot electrodes and to electrically connect them to said apparatus, a socket in the top of said cabinet, a telescoping insulation tube carrying said hand electrodes and receivable in said top socket, terminals in said socket, contacts on said tube to engage said terminals, and conductors extending from said contacts within said tube to said hand electrodes.

JAMES J. CHARTERS. 

